Nasal delivery devices

Abstract

A nasal delivery device for and a method of delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, the nasal delivery device comprising: a mouthpiece ( 519 ) through which the subject in use exhales to cause closure of the oropharyngeal velum of the subject; a nosepiece ( 517 ) for fitting to a nostril of a subject, the nosepiece including a nozzle ( 549 ) through which substance is in use delivered to the nasal airway; and a manually-actuatable substance supply unit ( 520 ) for delivering substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising:
 a mouthpiece through which the subject in use exhales to cause closure of the oropharyngeal velum of the subject; 
 a nosepiece for fitting to a nostril of the subject, the nosepiece including a nozzle through which substance is in use delivered to the nasal airway;
 a manually-actuatable substance supply unit which delivers substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece when manually actuated; and a latch mechanism which is operative between a first, inoperative configuration, in which the substance supply unit is inactuatable and cannot be manually actuated to deliver substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece, and a second, operative configuration, in which the substance supply unit is actuatable, wherein the latch mechanism is a breath-operated mechanism which comprises a latch member which is movable on exhalation by the subject between the first, inoperative position, in which the substance supply unit is inactuatable and cannot be manually actuated to deliver substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece, and the second, operative position, in which the substance supply unit is actuatable. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the latch mechanism comprises a biasing element for biasing the latch member to the inoperative position. 
     
     
       3. The delivery device of  claim 2 , wherein the latch mechanism comprises an operative element which is coupled to the latch member and is configured to be operated by the exhalation breath of the subject to move the latch member to the operative position. 
     
     
       4. The delivery device of  claim 3 , wherein the operative element comprises an inflatable element which is configured to expand on exhalation by the subject. 
     
     
       5. The delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flow channel fluidly connecting the nosepiece and the mouthpiece, whereby exhaled air from an exhalation breath is adapted to be delivered through the nosepiece. 
 
     
     
       6. The delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the substance supply unit comprises a substance-containing chamber which provides a volume of substance for delivery by the delivery device. 
     
     
       7. The delivery device of  claim 6 , wherein the substance supply unit further comprises a piston member which is movable relative to the substance-containing chamber to deliver a dose of substance from the substance-containing chamber. 
     
     
       8. The delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the substance supply unit provides for the delivery of a powder or liquid substance. 
     
     
       9. The delivery device of  claim 8 , wherein the substance is delivered as an aerosol or a jet. 
     
     
       10. The delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the nosepiece includes a sealing member which is adapted to provide a tight sealing fit with the nostril of the subject. 
     
     
       11. A method of delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising the steps of:
 providing a delivery device which comprises a nosepiece for fitting to a nostril of a subject, the nosepiece including a nozzle through which substance is delivered, a mouthpiece through which the subject in use exhales to cause closure of the oropharyngeal velum of the subject, a manually-actuatable substance supply unit which delivers substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece when manually actuated, and a latch mechanism which is operative between a first, inoperative configuration, in which the substance supply unit is inactuatable and cannot be manually actuated to deliver substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece, and a second, operative configuration, in which the substance supply unit is actuatable, wherein the latch mechanism is a breath-operated mechanism which comprises a latch member which is movable on exhalation by the subject between the first, inoperative position, in which the latch mechanism is in the inoperative configuration and the substance supply unit is inactuatable, and the second, operative position, in which the latch mechanism is in the operative configuration and the substance supply unit is actuatable; fitting the nosepiece to a nostril of the subject; 
 preventing manual actuation of the substance supply unit and delivery of substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece when the latch mechanism is in the inoperative configuration; 
 the subject exhaling through the mouthpiece to close the oropharyngeal velum of the subject and cause the latch member to be moved between the inoperative position, in which the substance supply unit is inactuatable and cannot be manually actuated to deliver substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece, and the operative position, in which the substance supply unit is actuatable; and 
 manually actuating the substance supply unit to deliver substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece to the nasal airway of the subject. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the latch mechanism comprises a biasing element for biasing the latch member to the inoperative position. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the latch mechanism comprises an operative element which is coupled to the latch member and operated by the exhalation breath of the subject to move the latch member to the operative position. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the operative element comprises an inflatable element which is expanded on exhalation by the subject. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the delivery device further comprises a flow channel which fluidly connects the nosepiece and the mouthpiece, whereby exhaled air from an exhalation breath is delivered through the nosepiece. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the substance supply unit comprises a substance-containing chamber which provides a volume of substance for delivery by the delivery device. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the substance supply unit provides for the delivery of a powder or liquid substance. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the substance is delivered as an aerosol or a jet.